Yodeling Chicks from Minnesota: The DeZurik Sisters
The DeZurik Sisters took inspiration from their feathery friends in Minnesota and became country music superstars…yodeling like chickens!
✅ Listen to Yodeling Chicks from Minnesota: The DeZurik Sisters on our podcast. We release new episodes of Travel with Jack and Kitty every day! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. 🎙️❤️
From Farm Girls to Stardom: The Unforgettable DeZurik Sisters
Ah, the 1930s. The U.S. was in the grip of the Great Depression, and young people were ditching their farms for city life. Not so for Mary Jane and Carolyn DeZurik. These sisters from Royalton, Minnesota embraced their roots and took them to the big stage. Born near the Mississippi River, they grew up in a home buzzing with six siblings. Every day was a mix of farm chores and a whole lot of music. 🎤🌾
Music in Their Veins
The DeZurik family was musically gifted. Dad was a fiddler, their brother Jerry played the accordion and guitar, and most of the sisters could strum and sing. But Mary Jane and Carolyn stood out. They turned the sounds of nature—the bleats, cackles, and howls—into a unique style of music. The industry noticed, and so began their journey to stardom. 🎶🐄
The Rise to Fame
The sisters were no strangers to local stages, but the big break came in 1936. While performing at the Morrison County Fair, they caught the attention of scouts from the WLS National Barn Dance show. Soon, they were regulars on this massively popular radio show, heard not just in the Midwest but all across America. 📻🌟
Love on the Airwaves
While conquering the music world, love came knocking. Carolyn caught the eye of Rusty Gill, a musician with the Hoosier Sod Busters. After some sweet courtship and approval from big sis Mary Jane, they tied the knot in 1940. Just weeks later, Mary Jane said “I do” to Augie Klein, an accordionist from WLS. 💕🎵
Hollywood and Beyond
Next up was Hollywood. The DeZurik sisters appeared in the movie “Barnyard Follies” and toured with the film. But the limelight got even brighter when they teamed up with Purina Mills for the “Checkerboard Time” radio show. Rebranded as the Cackle Sisters, their tune “My Little Rooster” became the trademark jingle for Purina’s chicken feed. 🐔🎬
Babies, Stardom, and Polka: The Pause for Parenthood
In 1940, life took a family-oriented turn for the DeZurik Sisters, Carolyn and Mary Jane. Stepping away from the limelight, both embraced motherhood. Carolyn welcomed Donald Alan, while Mary Jane had Janice Marie. Cute, right? 🍼🎉
From Motherhood to Ice Capades
Fast forward to 1943. Their husbands went off to serve in WWII, but Carolyn wasn’t one to sit idle. She won a coveted spot in the Sonja Henie Ice Review. Picture her signature chicken-yodels mixing with Sonja Henie’s Olympic-level figure skating. Now that’s entertainment! ✨⛸️
A Return to the Radio Waves
After two icy seasons, Carolyn found her way back to her home state, Minnesota. She joined the Sunset Valley Barn Dance, a popular show that aired on KSTP in St. Paul. You could also catch her on other KSTP shows like Main Street Minnesota and Sunrise Roundup. 📻
The Grand Ole Opry and Stardom
It wasn’t long before big names like Purina wanted in on the DeZurik magic. Mary Jane dusted off her mic, and the sisters joined Eddy Arnold on none other than the Grand Ole Opry stage! 🎤🌟 They broke barriers as the first ladies to perform on both the National Barn Dance and the Grand Ole Opry. Epic!
TV Time and the Rise to Fame
The late ’40s and early ’50s saw them transitioning to TV, hosting shows in cities from Chicago to Dayton. Talk about diversifying your portfolio! 📺
Polka, Beer, and Goodbye
By 1956, the sisters switched gears again. This time? Polka music. They became the face of Chicago’s polka craze and even had their own show, “Polka-Go-Round.” Carolyn used this fame to promote Busch Bavarian Beer with her yodels echoing in commercials. 🍻
The Final Act of the DeZurik Sisters
Sadly, all good things must come to an end. Both sisters eventually retired, cherishing their time in the entertainment industry. Mary Jane passed away in 1981 and Carolyn in 2009, but their legacy, which began in Royalton, Minnesota, lives on.
So there you have it, folks! The captivating journey of two sisters who gave us a lifetime of melodies and unforgettable moments. 🌟🎶
✅ Don’t miss out! Listen to today’s podcast episode, Yodeling Chicks from Minnesota: The DeZurik Sisters – where we delve even deeper into this story. Remember, we release new episodes of Travel with Jack and Kitty every day! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. 🎙️❤️
Listen to the DeZurik Sisters
Here’s three records from our collection…enjoy!
“Shanghai Rooster”
“Yodel Lady”
“Purina Farm Products”
Listen on YouTube
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